Ignition system



Patented June 12, 1923.

. UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

HARRY R; PATTERSON, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TOELECTRIC AUTOLITE CORPORA- TION, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, .A CORPORATION DELAWARE.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

Application filed August 28, 1919. Serial No. 320,374.

To, all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY R. Parrnnson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State'of Ohiophave invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Ignition Systems,"of which; declare the following to be a full, clearpand exact description. This-invention relates to electriclightin and power plants employing an internal combustion engine which drives an electric generator-to charge a storagebattery. It relates particularly to the manner 1 of stoppingthe engine whenythe battery ha been charged to the desired amount.

An object of my invention is the provision of means for stopping the engine after a definite quantity of electricity has been put into the battery by renderingthe igni- 2 tion mechanism ineffective;

Another object is the provision in such a system'of means whereby when the'charge is complete the charging circuit is not opened while 'the charging current has an appreciable value but only after'it 'has reduced to a small or negligible value. Further objects of thisinvention will appear from the detailed description-to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention in certain instances by the devices-and means described in the following specifications, but it is evident'that the same'may bevaried widely without departing from the scope of the invention, as pointed out in the appended claims. Arrangements constituting certainembodiments of my invention, any one of which may be the preferred,'are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forminga part thereof, in which:

Figure I is a circuit diagram illustrating one form of my invention.

Fig. II is a fragmentary circuit diagram illustrating a modification.

Fig. III is another fragmentary circuit diagram illustrating a further modification.

In the drawings, similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A prime mover consisting of an internal combustion engine 5 is shown direct connected to a shunt wound generator 6 by a shaft 7. This generator has a shunt winding 8 and a third brush 9 from which the ignition current for the engine is taken.

Its main brushes are connected to circuit wires 10, 10' for charging a storage battery 11 or for supplying current to translating devices suchfor example as lamps 12 or a motor 13. In the connection 10" between the generator-and the battery is an electro magnetic switch or cut out 15having a potential winding 16 and a current winding 17 so connected that they act cumulatively when thebattery is being charged. A hand lever 18 is employed to manualy close the switch for startingthe engine.

i The ignitionsystem comprises the usual cam driven-interrupter and induction coil. According to the drawing the engine shaft 7 carries :a pinion 20' meshing with a gear 21 on the camshaft 22-. The cam 23 operates an interrupter lever 24 which, cooperating with a stationary contact 25, serves to open and closethe primary circuit 27. This circuit includes .the primary winding 28 of induction coil 29 and is connected to the third brush 9 of the generator. The secondary 30 connects as usual with the spark plug 31 of the engine.

-I%nitionapparatus such as that just descri ed is usually designed to provide the necessary spark for fir'ing the engine-only when a suitable condenser is connected across the interrupter contacts. I According to my invention I also employ a condenser in this manner, but provide means for rendering the i condenserfiinefi'ective when it is desired to stop the engine. The condenser 33 has one terminal connected to the stationary contact 25 while its opposite terminal is connected through the back contact 34 and armature 35 of a relay36 to ground and-thereby to the moving contact on the interrupter lever 24. The winding 37 of this relay has one end 38 connected to the wire 10 while its other end 39 connects with a moving contact 40 of an ampere hourmeter 41. This meter 41 is connected in series with the battery and may indicate the amount of electricity put into or taken from the battery. A grounded stationary contact 42 is adapted to be engaged by the moving contact 40 when the battery is fully charged.

In operation let it he assumed that the parts are as shown in Fig. 1 and that the battery is being charged. \Vhen full charge is reached. the contact 40 of the ampere hour meter will touch the contact 42 thereby en ergizing relay 36 to open the circuit of condenser \Vith the effect of the condenser rumored the ignition spark ceases and the engine gradually comes to rest. However as soon its speed has decreased to the point where the generator E. M. F. equals that of the battery or is slightly less permitting a reverse current the cut out 15 0pcrates to open the charging circuit and pre vent further discharge. In starting the engine the generator is operated as a motor taking energy from the battery, the hand lever 18 being operated to close the circuit.

According to the modification illustrated by Fig. II the relay 36, which is connected to the ampere hour meter asinFig. 1, serves to short circuit the condenser as well as the interrupter. The condenser 33 in this case is permanently grounded at one terminal but has its other terminal, which .is connected with the contact 25, connected also with the front contact 45 of the relay 36. 'When the relay is energized both. thecondenser and the interrupter are shortcircuited.

According to the'modification illustrated by Fig. III the condenser and interrupter a re short circuited as in the previously described modification but in this case the relay 36 is dispensed with-the moving contact 40 of the ampere hour meter being connected with the condenser and interrupter.

In operation the ampere hour meter closes directly the short circuit path about the condenser and interrupter.

While I hare described my invention in more or less detail and as being embodied in certain precise forms Ido not desire or intend to be limited thereto, as on the contrary my inrention contemplates broadly all proper changes, as well as the omission of immaterial elements and the substitution of equivalents therefor, as circumstances may suggest or necessity render expedient.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a battery charging system comprising an internal combustionengine having an ignition circuit including an interrupter and a condenser connected across the interrupter contacts, a generator and a storage battery. the method of controlling the amount of charge given to said battery which consists in integrating the current delivered to said battery and when its integrated value reaches a predetermined amount of successively rendering sai condenser and interrupter ineffective.

2. In a battery charging system comprising an internal combustion engine having an ignition circuit including an interrupter and a condenser connected across the interrupter contacts, a generator and a storage battery, the method of controlling the amount of charge given to said battery which consists in opening the condenser circuit and subsequently opening the charging circuit when the potential of the generator becomes equal to or slightly less than the potential of thebattery.

3. In combination an internal combustion engine, an ignition system therefor including an interrupter and a condenser connected thereto, a generator operatively con nected to said engine, a storage battery adapted to be charged by said generator and means including an ampere hour meter in circuit with said battery for opening the circuit of said condenser.

i. In combination an internal combustion engine, an ignition system therefor including an interrupter having a condenser connected thereto, a generator adapted to be driven by said engine, a storage battery connected to bechar ed by said generator, a

switch in the circuit connections ofsaid condenser and means responsive to the integrated current icceived bysaid battery for operating said switch.

5. In combination an internal combustion engine, an ignition system therefor including an interrupter having a condenser connected across the contacts thereof, a generator adapted to be driven by said engine, a storage battery connected to be charged by said generator, a translating device connccted to said battery, a switch in thecircuit connections of said condenser. an electromagnet for operating said switch and an ampere hour meter in circuit with said battery having a switch in circuit with said clectroinagnet whereby the ampere hour meter may control the ignition circuit to stolp the engine. l

n testimony whereof, I allix my sigmr ture.

HARRY R. PATTERSON. 

